Genealogist, Mary Sue Green Smith (1933-2009)
Genealogist, Mary Sue Green Smith (1933-2009) was originally published at . Prominent Nashville, TN genealogist, Mary Sue Green Smith (1933-2009) has passed away. She was President of the Middle...
View ArticleClik here to view.
13th Amendment Ratified, Abolishing Slavery in America
Our online archive of old newspapers is a great resource to help with your family history research, filling in details on your family tree. It’s also a good way to learn about the times your ancestors...
View ArticleClik here to view.
102-Year-Old Ex-Slave Once Shook Abraham Lincoln’s Hand
I ran across this interesting obituary in an old newspaper today. It ended with this line: “She once shook hands with Abraham Lincoln.” In 1912, or even today, it would be impressive to know someone...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, aka Frederick Douglass
Introduction: Scott Phillips is a genealogical historian and owner of Onward To Our Past® genealogy services. In this guest blog post, Scott searches old newspapers to learn about one of the great...
View ArticleClik here to view.
African American Slave Trade: Ships & Records for Genealogy
Introduction: Gena Philibert-Ortega is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family Kitchen.” In this guest blog post, Gena searches old newspapers and other online resources to learn more...
View ArticleClik here to view.
African American Slave Born in 1686 Dies at Age 116 in 1802!
While doing genealogy research recently in GenealogyBank’s Historical Newspaper Archives, I came upon the obituary of a woman identified only as “a female slave named Alice,” who died at Bristol,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Slavery Abolished with Ratification of the 13th Amendment
To ensure that the Emancipation Proclamation was not a temporary wartime measure and to expand its scope, President Abraham Lincoln urged Congress to propose an amendment to the Constitution...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Civil War Drama: ‘Colored’ Troops Freeing Southern Slaves
In 1831 William Lloyd Garrison began publishing his powerful anti-slavery newspaper, the Liberator. His paper became the preeminent abolitionist organ of 19th-century America, printing many articles,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
U.S. Supreme Court Frees ‘Amistad’ Slaves
In a case closely watched by the American public, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on 9 March 1841 in favor of the African petitioners in the famous Amistad case, a slave revolt led by Sengbe Pieh (Joseph...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Genealogy Sleuthing: Reunited Black Families after the Civil War
Introduction: In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak searches “missing person” ads in old newspapers to learn more about how newly-freed Blacks found missing members of their families after the Civil...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lincoln: ‘A House Divided against Itself Cannot Stand’
Part of President Abraham Lincoln’s enduring legacy is the reputation he earned as a gifted orator. He is the president who delivered two of the greatest speeches in American history: the Gettysburg...
View ArticleClik here to view.
President Lincoln Issues the Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln’s determined objective and steadfast focus in waging the Civil War initially was preserving the Union – not freeing the slaves or forever ending slavery in the United States....
View ArticleClik here to view.
On This Day: Free Blacks Left U.S. to Form New African Colony
Accompanied by the 32-gun warship USS Cyane, the Elizabeth sailed out of New York Harbor on 6 February 1820 on a pioneering voyage with an unusual passenger list: 88 free African American emigrants...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Slaves’ Lives: Biographical Sketches from America’s Newspapers
We are fortunate that the pages of America’s newspapers have recorded over 2 billion stories of Americans from the last three centuries. GenealogyBank’s Historical Newspaper Archives contain these...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Former Slave’s Story: ‘I Bought My Freedom’
Do you know me? My name is Lewis Hathaway (1824-1897), I was born 194 years ago in Kentucky, on 5 January 1824. I was born into slavery and was sold to Judge J.R. Peters. I worked out an agreement to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Genealogy Discoveries: A Look into John Brown Russwurm’s Life
Introduction: In this article – to help celebrate February being Black History Month – Mary Harrell-Sesniak searches old newspapers to learn more about publisher, journalist and abolitionist John Brown...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Genealogy 101: Using Records from the Freedmen’s Bureau
Introduction: In this article – part of an ongoing “Introduction to Genealogy” series – Gena Philibert-Ortega gives tips for using the records of the Freedmen’s Bureau, 1865-1872. Gena is a genealogist...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Resources to Trace African American Slave Ancestry
FamilySearch recently announced it is working with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society and the California...
View ArticleClik here to view.
On This Day: U.S. House Promises No Interference with Slavery
February 1861 was a time of great stress and conflict in the United States. On February 1 Texas became the seventh state to secede from the Union. On February 4 the first six seceding states (in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers’ Project, 1936-1938
Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega writes about an important resource for African American history and genealogy: slave narratives recorded by the Federal Writers’ Project. Gena is a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Dred Scott Decision: Supreme Court Denied Citizenship to Blacks
In one of the most controversial decisions in the nation’s judicial history, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its Dred Scott v. Sandford decision on 6 March 1857, ruling that Blacks could not be citizens...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Juneteenth: Texas Slaves Freed at Last
Juneteenth, a uniquely American holiday, celebrates the declaration by Union Army General Gordon Granger on 19 June 1865 in Galveston, Texas, that “all slaves are free” – the last remaining slaves of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Black History Month: Searching for Sojourner Truth
Introduction: In this article, to help celebrate Black History Month, Jane Hampton Cook searches old newspapers to learn more about Sojourner Truth, including her meeting with Abraham Lincoln in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
African American Genealogy Tip: Information Wanted Ads
Introduction: In this article – in honor of February being Black History Month – Gena Philibert-Ortega gives tips for using “Information Wanted” newspaper ads for African American genealogy. Gena is a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
On This Day: Maine Enters Union as Part of Slavery Compromise
The state of Maine is rugged country, with its rocky North Atlantic shoreline, mountainous, heavily-forested interior, and demanding winters. Its people are hardy, as they have to be in coping with its...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Anti-Slavery Kansas Pioneers Thank Preacher for Bibles – and Guns
The Connecticut Kansas Colony, an anti-slavery group led by Charles B. Lines in New Haven, Connecticut, was gathering supplies and funds in 1855 for their immigration to the Kansas Territory. The group...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Minnesota Gained Statehood at a Troubled Time
It was a proud moment for residents of the eastern half of Minnesota Territory when Minnesota was admitted into the Union as the 32nd state on 11 May 1858. However, the country they entered was in the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Brave Abolitionists on New England’s Underground Railroad
Introduction: In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry searches old newspapers to learn about two brothers, William and Francis Jackson, who helped fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Brave Abolitionists on New England’s Underground Railroad, Part II
Introduction: In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry continues her story about two brothers, William and Francis Jackson, who helped fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad in Massachusetts....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lancaster County Quaker Abolitionists & the Underground Railroad (part 1)
Introduction: In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry writes about some of the prominent abolitionist families who for many years acted as “conductors” on the Underground Railroad in Lancaster County,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lancaster County Quaker Abolitionists & the Underground Railroad (part 2)
Introduction: In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry writes more about some of the prominent abolitionist families who for many years acted as “conductors” on the Underground Railroad in Lancaster...
View Article